It’s always fun to imagine those classic schoolyard debates; who’s dad is stronger, which player is the best in the league and within the hobby, it’s about who reigns as the rarest card. These timeless debates find their way into every aspect of life, and the sports card world is no exception. So, when that question arises here, the stakes are clear: which card truly takes the crown as the rarest in their respective sport. In baseball, it’s undoubtedly the T206 Honus Wagner, but in hockey, the rivalry heats up between two rugged icons. Is the much talked about Bert Corbeau the reigning champion of scarcity, or is Sprague Cleghorn, his relentless adversary?
Bert Corbeau’s card belongs to the iconic 1923-24 William Paterson (V-145-1), a landmark hockey card set with approximately a dozen or so known copies exist and only eight graded by PSA. While the Sprague Cleghorn’s card comes from a lesser-known 1924-25 Maple Crispette (V-130), a somewhat lower tiered set to some, his card vastly rarer with only 2-3 copies are known to exist, with only one graded by PSA.
Both Bert Corbeau and Sprague Cleghorn are like mythical heavyweights, each represented as the most desirable short-prints in their respective hockey card sets. Their rarity alone fuels their allure, making them coveted gems, and while most collectors may never own one, the legend of discovering one at a garage sale at the bottom of a dusty old box is often a dream we've all had. In the hobby world, though, rarity doesn’t automatically mean value, it has to resonate with collector demand. And when that appeal of one over the other is often echoed by hobby influencers, lore or shared through collector chatter, who’s to say what truly crowns the champ and names the rival?
Certainly, Bert Corbeau is the name you hear most often in hobby circles and his card notoriety definitely seems to outweigh Sprague Cleghorn’s. But does popularity automatically translate to rarity or value? The story isn’t that simple. Corbeau, while a defensive stalwart in his day, never hit the Hockey Hall of Fame heights that Cleghorn did. Cleghorn, on the other hand, had a career marked by his gritty, physical play, earning a spot among the hockey greats despite his reputation for violence on the ice.
Let's review their hockey careers and see where that lands in the collector's minds?
Bert Corbeau and Sprague Cleghorn were two rugged, hard-nosed defensemen from the roaring 1920s; a notoriously tough era in professional hockey. Both were renowned for their physical style and aggressive presence on the ice, and interestingly, each had brothers who also made their mark in the sport. This family connection can sometimes influence their popularity, as the last name often brings recall but isn’t always attributed to the right brother. Here’s a comparison that sheds light on some of their playing similarities and shared impact on hockey:
1. Brothers in Hockey:
Bert Corbeau: Bert’s brother, Con Corbeau, also played professional hockey, making appearances in the National Hockey Association (NHA) and the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA).
Sprague Cleghorn: Sprague’s brother, Odie Cleghorn, was also a notable player, and the two brothers were teammates on the Montreal Canadiens for several seasons. Odie was considered a skilled forward and a strong complement to his more infamous brother and interestingly enough was also once a teammate with Bert Corbeau.
2. Physical, Aggressive Style of Play:
Both Corbeau and Cleghorn were known for their punishing, physical style on the ice. They were not just players but enforcers, often intimidating their opponents and engaging in rough play.
Bert Corbeau: Known as one of the toughest players of his time, Corbeau was a defenseman who never shied away from physical altercations or fighting.
Sprague Cleghorn: Sprague Cleghorn was a force to be reckoned with, both feared and infamous for his violent style of play. As a defensive-forward, he combined aggressive, borderline brutal tactics with an impressive ability to rack up points. In fact, his relentless style earned him a notorious reputation as one of the dirtiest players in hockey history.
One of the more well-known incidents involving Cleghorn occurred when he struck Lionel Hitchman of the Boston Bruins over the head with his stick, resulting in charges of aggravated assault. His frequent outbursts of violence on the ice led to numerous altercations and penalties. Perhaps his most lasting legacy stems from the Lady Byng Trophy itself. Evelyn Byng, an avid Ottawa Senators fan, disgusted by Cleghorn’s vicious playing style, is said to have donated the Lady Byng Trophy in direct response to his on-ice antics, an award created to honor sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct, two qualities that Cleghorn certainly did not possess.
3. Stanley Cup Champions:
Both players achieved success on the ice and were part of Stanley Cup-winning teams.
Bert Corbeau: He won the Stanley Cup with the Montreal Canadiens in 1916, becoming a key part of their defense.
Sprague Cleghorn: He won three Stanley Cups in his career and his tough style and point accumulation were instrumental in his success during those years.
4. Tragic Ends:
Both players also had tragedies associated with their post-hockey lives.
Bert Corbeau: In September of 1942, as plant superintendent for the Midland Foundry & Machine Co., Bert Corbeau organized a fishing party to celebrate the quick completion of a WWII contract. As a gesture of thanks and camaraderie, he posted a note on the company bulletin board inviting workers to join him aboard his large boat for a day out on Georgian Bay. Tragically, that day turned fatal. With 42 people on board, the vessel suddenly sank in the frigid waters. Only 17 survived, and Bert himself was among the 25 fatalities, marking a somber end to the life of a player who’d once been as tough as they came on the ice.
Sprague Cleghorn: While Cleghorn didn’t die tragically like Corbeau, he too had a difficult post-hockey life, struggling with health issues after being hit by a car two years earlier and ultimately passing away in 1956 at the age of 66. Sadly, his brother Odie died only two days after.
5. Legacy in the Hockey World:
Both players left significant marks in hockey history, largely for their physicality and influence on the game in its early years.
Bert Corbeau: He was known as one of the first true defensive enforcers in the game and was highly respected for his toughness.
Sprague Cleghorn: Sprague’s legacy as one of the NHL’s original "bad boys" has stood the test of time, as he is often remembered for his violent style but also for his skill and impact on the sport. Although his career is heavily spotted with violence, Sprague was inducted in the HHOF in 1958.
The battle for these two elusive short-printed cards, Bert Corbeau and Sprague Cleghorn, adds a deeper layer of intrigue to their legacy. Both players hail from an era where confection companies deliberately printed limited quantities of one particular trading card set to reduce prize redemptions, while driving sales in the process. What was once just a redemption for a pair of skates or a box of candy has now become a chase for cards worth many thousands of dollars!
While several other short-prints from the roaring '20s were also present in the Canadian Western Hockey League. Crescent Ice Cream Company also played the "short-print" game with a few smaller sets. Of those, only the Cecil Brown short-print from the 1923-24 Selkirk series has been found, while the other two Cresent sets remain elusive. Similarly, 1924-25 Holland Creameries engaged in their own underhanded tactic with the rare Connie Neil card, although this issue chooses players based on league selections rather than specific teams like the Selkirk's, adding another layer of intrigue to these early hockey cards.
These sets, tied to smaller, non-NHL leagues, naturally have a scarcity appeal but lack the high demand associated with the major leagues. However, this truly depends on the unknown short-printed players yet to be found. Although, I would be remiss not to mention the 1933-34 Anonymous issue with Harry Oliver as the short-print, from an anonymous set allocated in Burdick's ACC as V-129. Again, this might also be considered extremely rare with only one or two known, but its mystery to the issuer somewhat detracts from the allure of this set. To date, there is only one graded Harry Oliver by PSA!
When weighing it all out; the career milestones, scarcity, and the elusive pull-on collectors, these cards seem destined to clash in the hierarchy of rarity and desirability. It’s not just the lack of availability that fuels the intrigue, it's the stories behind each player and the unique history that their sets represent.
So, the debate endures and just depends on which side of the rink you’re on and how deeply these storied sets resonate with you. Collectors know that the answer isn’t really a final one; it shifts, it changes, and maybe that’s what keeps these two top tiered pieces of cardboard so endlessly fascinating.